Garage Fire Not Suspicious

Marv Wheeler, Wauseon Fire Department chief, said the Monday, Jan. 21, fire that destroyed a garage near Pettisville is not suspicious.

Wheeler said last week a cause had not been found. It will probably be listed as undetermined, he said.

Wauseon firefighters were called to the home, owned by Chris Stuckey, 18868 US20A, at 6:37 pm, then WFD called for manpower and water tankers from Archbold.

The garage was attached to the house. The fire destroyed the garage, destroyed most of the connecting structure, and began to burn the siding on the house.

When Wauseon firefighters arrived, Wheeler said they pulled a 2 1/2-inch hose off one of the pumper trucks, and first attacked the house fire.

"That knocked the heat out of it. The guys got a really good knockdown, and kept it out of the structural part of the house. There was a lot of smoke and heat damage, but the structure is sound," he said.

Wheeler said the residents evacuated when the fire started.

Archbold and Wauseon tankers shuttled water from a hydrant on Co. Rd. 19, near Co. Rd. F.

Andy Brodbeck, Archbold Fire Department chief, said AFD sends two pumper trucks, plus tanker No. 106 when there's a call for manpower, because the two pumpers can carry 12 firefighters. Engine 102, another pumper, was dispatched to fill tankers from the hydrant. - David Pugh